The Pontifical Council for the Family

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Msgr. Francesco DeFelice,
while Undersecretary of the Pontifical Council for the
Family, endorsed Fr. Frank Pavone and Priests for Life

From the beginning of its existence,
Priests for Life has had close contact with the Pontifical Council for the
Family. From 1997-1999, Fr. Frank Pavone served in Rome as an official of the
Council.

What is this Council and what are its duties?

The overall mission of the Catholic Church throughout the world is
coordinated by a number of Congregations and Councils in the Vatican, each of
which is assigned certain areas of responsibility. Assistance is thereby given
to the Holy Father in his role as the Universal Pastor of the Church. There is,
for example, a Congregation that oversees anything pertaining to the
administration of the Sacraments, another that oversees Catholic education, and
so forth.

The activity of the Church for the defense of human life and for the pastoral
care of the family falls under the responsibility of the Pontifical Council for
the Family.

Pope John Paul II created this council on May 9, 1981. During the previous
year, a special assembly of bishops in Rome had discussed the role of the
Christian family in the modern world.

The Council collaborates with the other departments in the Vatican and with
bishops throughout the world. It follows the activities of pro-life and
pro-family organizations throughout the world and assists them with the help of
the staff based in Rome as well as members and consultors throughout the world,
including married couples.

The specific focus of Priests for Life, namely, the defense of human life
from abortion and euthanasia, is one of the areas on which the Council for the
Family focuses. Other areas that the Council oversees include contraception, sex
education, the rights, theology, and spirituality of the family, and marriage
preparation. Part of the educational efforts of the Council includes publication
of its journal Familia et Vita.

Following are some of the many documents published by the Pontifical Council
for the Family.

Every three years, the Pontifical
Council for the Family coordinates a World gathering of Families with the Holy
Father. Information regarding some of these meetings, and educational materials
produced for them, follows:

Many other conferences are sponsored
by the Council. In November, 2000, for example, a conference was held in Rome on
"Globalization, Economy, and Family."

Priests for Life is grateful to the President of the Pontifical Council for
the Family, His Excellency Archbishop Vincenzo Paglia for his leadership and support. Priests
for Life also acknowledges in a special way the leadership of the former
President of the Pontifical Council for the Family, the late Alfonso Cardinal
Lopez Trujillo. He was a prophetic voice in the Church for years on the dignity
and rights of the human person. He served on the Advisory Board of Priests for
Life from its inception. We are happy to provide here the texts of some of his
talks given in the United States and elsewhere.